Impey among shock awards omissions

IT IS South African Sports Awards time again — razzmatazz, a host of sports stars and some gobsmacking oversights that this year include Daryl Impey.

Impey is the only South African to have worn the coveted yellow jersey in the Tour de France, but his feat was all but reduced to insignificance at the nominations announcement in Midrand yesterday.

The cyclist was just one of a few high-octane omissions when the finalists were announced at a breakfast function broadcast live on SABC. Besides Impey, organisers failed to nominate mountain-biker Greg Minnaar, the reigning downhill racing world champion.

Johan Cronje, who won SA’s only medal at the world athletics championships in Moscow, was also unable to get a look-in. The fact that he twice broke the national 1,500m record this year did not seem to impress the judges either.

For the R65m that has been budgeted for the awards — more than many local federations see in a decade — you would think they might have got it absolutely right.

But make no mistake, there are several deserving nominations for the awards ceremony that will be held at Sun City on November 17.

Chad le Clos, who won a rare 100m and 200m butterfly double at the world championships in Barcelona, is one of five contenders for the Sports Star trophy, the only award voted for by the public.

Le Clos, who bagged the prize last year, is up against cricket star Hashim Amla, Bafana Bafana captain Itumeleng Khune, disabled tennis player Lucas Sithole and athlete Mapaseka Makhanya.

Khune and Amla are also in the Sportsman of the Year category, up against another world champion, swimmer Cameron van der Burgh, and Makhanya faces off against golfer Lee-Anne Pace and women’s rugby captain Mandisa Williams for Sportswoman of the Year.

Sithole is also vying for Sportsman of the Year with a Disability against distance racer Ernst van Dyk and visually impaired athlete Hilton Langenhoven. Graham Hill, mentor of Le Clos, gets a second crack at coach of the year after losing out to Banyana’s Joseph Mkhonza last year. His rivals are Bok coach Heyneke Meyer and Holger Losch (tennis).

Team of the Year will be a tussle between the Proteas, Springboks and Kaizer Chiefs.

Times Media Group’s Ramatsiyi Moholoa is in the running for Journalist of the Year against Jonathan Cook and Cheryl Roberts.